One-time-use camera has driver for closing film cassette which cannot re-open closed cassette

ABSTRACT

A one-time-use camera comprising a film cassette having a light lock pivoted open to permit film movement into the cassette interior and pivoted closed to prevent ambient light from entering the cassette interior and a locking pawl movable into engagement with the light lock when the light lock is closed to secure the light lock closed and movable out of engagement with the light lock when the light lock is closed to permit the light lock to be pivoted open, is characterized in that a driver is moveable in engagement with the light lock to pivot the light lock closed to allow the locking pawl to move into engagement with the light lock and has a void which prevents the driver from moving the locking pawl out of engagement with the light lock, whereby the driver can be pushed against the film cassette to push the film cassette out of the camera without any possibility of the driver being moved in engagement with the light lock to pivot the light lock open.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Reference is made to commonly assigned copending applications 08/371,336, entitled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CLOSING LIGHT LOCK OF FILM CASSETTE AND UNLOADING CASSETTE FROM CAMERA and filed Jan. 11, 1995 in the names of David C. Smart and Thomas E. Dussinger, Ser. No. 08/590,968, entitled CAMERA WITH FILM SENSOR AND DRIVER TO INITIATE CLOSING OF CASSETTE RESPONSIVE TO RETURN OF FILMSTRIP TO CASSETTE and filed Jan. 24, 1996 in the names of David C. Smart and Douglas H. Pearson, Ser. No. 08/590,662, entitled ONE-TIME-USE CAMERA HAS DRIVER FOR CLOSING FILM CASSETTE WHICH IS REMOVED WITH CLOSED CASSETTE TO DISABLE CAMERA AFTER COMPLETED USE and filed Jan. 24, 1996 in the names of David C. Smart and Douglas H. Pearson, Ser. No. 08/590,666, entitled ONE-TIME-USE CAMERA HAS DRIVER FOR CLOSING FILM CASSETTE WHICH IS BROKEN TO DISABLE CAMERA AFTER COMPLETED USE and filed Jan. 24, 1996 in the names of David C. Smart and Douglas H. Pearson, Ser. No. 08/590,717, entitled ONE-TIME-USE CAMERA UNCOVERS INGRESS OPENING FOR INSERTION TOOL TO EJECT CASSETTE WHEN CASSETTE CLOSED and filed Jan. 24, 1996 in the names of David C. Smart and Thomas E. Dussinger, and Ser. No. 08/590,792, entitled CAMERA WITH MANUAL FILM REWIND LOCKED WHEN CASSETTE CLOSED, PREFERABLY TO POSITION FILM EXPOSED INDICATOR IN WINDOW OF CASSETTE and filed Jan. 24, 1996 in the names of David C. Smart and Thomas E. Dussinger, Ser. No. 08/590,719, entitled ONE-TIME-USE CAMERA WITH LID FLEXED TO UNCOVER CHAMBER WHEN CASSETTE FORCIBLY EJECTED FROM CHAMBER and filed Jan. 24, 1996 in the names of David C. Smart and Ralph M. Lyon and Ser. No. 08/595,339, entitled ONE-TIME-USE CAMERA WITH STOP-PROTRUSION FOR ENGAGING OPEN LIGHT LOCK OF CASSETTE TO PREVENT CASSETTE FROM DISLODGING LID CLOSING CHAMBER and filed Feb. 9, 1996 in the names of David C. Smart and Kauyoshi Sugano and Kiyohide Itoh and Takashi Shirahama.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to the field of photography, and in particular to a one-time-use camera with a film cassette that can be opened and closed. More specifically the invention relates to a one-time-use camera having a driver for closing the film cassette, which cannot re-open the closed cassette when the driver is removed with the closed cassette from the camera after completed film use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Commonly assigned prior art U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,357,303, issued Oct. 18, 1994, and 5,359,378, issued Oct. 25, 1994, each disclose a film cassette having a light lock pivoted open to permit film movement out of and into the cassette interior and pivoted closed to prevent ambient light from entering the cassette interior and a resilient locking pawl inherently biased to engage the light lock when the light lock is closed to secure the light lock closed and being flexibly movable out of engagement with the light lock when the light lock is closed to permit the light lock to be pivoted open. A separate driver is adapted to engage the light lock within a drive cavity of the light lock to be rotated in opposite opening and closing directions to pivot the light lock open and to re-close the light lock. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,378, the driver is configured to push the locking pawl out of engagement with the light lock when the driver is simply received in the drive cavity. Then the driver can be rotated in the opening and closing directions within the drive cavity to pivot the light lock open and to re-close the light lock. The locking pawl cannot re-engage the light lock until the driver is removed from the drive cavity. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,303, the driver is configured to push the locking pawl out of engagement with the light lock when the driver is initially rotated within the drive cavity in the opening direction. Then the driver can be further rotated in the opening direction within the drive cavity to pivot the light lock open and can be reversed to re-close the light lock. When the light lock is re-closed, the locking pawl re-engages the light lock. If, however, the driver is again rotated in the opening direction, the driver will again push the locking pawl out of engagement with the light lock.

THE CROSS-REFERENCED APPLICATIONS

The cross-referenced applications each disclose a one-time-use camera for use with a film cassette similar to the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,357,303 and 5,359,378. The camera comprises a cassette-receiving chamber, and a driver to be moved to close the light lock before the film cassette is removed from the chamber. An exterior ingress opening to the chamber is provided to admit a manual insertion tool into the chamber to push the film cassette out of the chamber. The driver is located for the tool to push the driver out of the chamber with the film cassette, whereby the camera will be permanently disabled to prevent its unauthorized reuse.

If the driver is the one disclosed in the '303 patent or the '378 patent, it might be rotated to re-open the light lock when the tool pushes the driver out of the chamber with the film cassette, because the tool might be unintentionally turned in engagement with the driver to rotate the driver in the opening direction. Thus, an exposed filmstrip inside the film cassette could be ruined.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A one-time-use camera comprising a film cassette having a light lock pivoted open to permit film movement into the cassette interior and pivoted closed to prevent ambient light from entering the cassette interior and a locking pawl movable into engagement with the light lock when the light lock is closed to secure the light lock closed and movable out of engagement with the light lock when the light lock is closed to permit the light lock to be pivoted open, is characterized in that:

a driver is moveable in engagement with the light lock to pivot the light lock closed to allow the locking pawl to move into engagement with the light lock and has a void which prevents the driver from moving the locking pawl out of engagement with the light lock, whereby the driver can be pushed against the film cassette to push the film cassette out of the camera without any possibility of the driver being moved in engagement with the light lock to pivot the light lock open.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded partial perspective view of a one-time-use camera with a film cassette, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembled partial perspective view of the camera with the film cassette as seen from an opposite side;

FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are assembled partial perspective views of the camera with the film cassette, depicting operation of the camera;

FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are opposite end views of the film cassette, depicting operation of a visual exposure indicator (VEI);

FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 are assembled partial perspective views of the camera with the film cassette, depicting how the film cassette is ejected from a cassette chamber;

FIG. 18 is an exploded partial perspective, partial section view of a detail of FIG. 1;

FIG. 19 is an assembled partial perspective, partial section view of the same detail of FIG. 1;

FIG. 20 is an assembled partial perspective, partial section view of the same detail as seen in FIG. 3;

FIG. 21 is an assembled partial perspective, partial section view of the same detail as seen in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 22 is similar to FIG. 21 but further in section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is disclosed as being embodied preferably in a one-time-use camera. Because the features of a one-time-use camera are generally known, the description which follows is directed in particular only to those elements forming part of or cooperating directly with the disclosed embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that other elements may take various forms known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Film Cassette--Background

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a film cassette 10 similar in operation to ones disclosed in prior art U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,357,303, issued Oct. 18, 1994, and 5,231,438, issued Jul. 27, 1993. The film cassette 10 includes a cassette shell 12 that contains a flanged spool 14 on which is stored a wound unexposed/exposed filmstrip 16. A slightly elastic light lock 18 is supported within a film egress/ingress slot 20 in the cassette shell 12 to be pivoted open to permit film movement out of and back into the shell, through the slot, and to be pivoted closed to prevent ambient light from entering the shell, through the slot.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the film cassette 10 from opposite sides, with the light lock 18 open and all but a trailing film end portion 22 of the filmstrip 16 wound into the cassette shell 12 after the filmstrip is exposed outside the cassette shell. FIG. 6 shows the light lock 18 pivoted completely closed after the trailing film end portion 22 is wound into the cassette shell 12.

The spool 14 has a coaxial drive cavity 24 accessible at a drive end 26 of the cassette shell 12 and the light lock 18 has a coaxial drive cavity 28 accessible at the same end of the cassette shell as shown in FIG. 1. A visual exposure indicator (VEI) in the form of an indicator flag 30 is rotatable coaxially with the spool 14 to be respectively positioned in four separate windows 32, 34, 36 and 38 in a VEI end 40 of the cassette shell 12 when the spool is at different predetermined angles of rotation. The VEI end 40 of the cassette shell 12 is an opposite end of the cassette shell, with respect to the drive end 26 of the cassette shell. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the spool 14 is at a predetermined acute angle of rotation 42 the indicator flag 30 is at the same angle to be positioned in the window 32, to provide a visual film-unexposed warning or indication. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the spool 14 is at a predetermined first-obtuse angle of rotation 44 the indicator flag 30 is at the same angle to be positioned in the window 34, to provide a visual film-partially-exposed warning or indication. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, when the spool 14 is at a predetermined second-obtuse angle of rotation 46 the indicator flag 30 is at the same angle to be positioned in the window 36, to provide a visual film-completely-exposed warning or indication. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, when the spool 14 is at a predetermined third-obtuse angle of rotation 48 the indicator flag 30 is at the same angle to be positioned in the window 38, to provide a visual film-processed warning or indication.

Camera--Background

A partially shown camera 50 with which the film cassette 10 is to be used is shown in FIGS. 1 and 15.

Looking at FIG. 15, the camera 50 includes a cassette chamber 52 for the film cassette 10. The chamber 52 is open at its top and bottom, and has a film egress/ingress slot (not shown) opposite the film egress/ingress slot 20 in the cassette shell 12 to permit film movement out of and back into the chamber. An exterior top housing portion 54 of the camera 50 has a tool ingress opening 56 which is located coaxially above the drive cavity 28 of the light lock 18. A bottom lid 58 or plug of the camera 50 removably seals the chamber 52 at its bottom.

Looking at FIGS. 1 and 2, an actuator unit 60 for pivoting the light lock 18 closed after the trailing film end portion 22 is wound into the cassette shell 12 comprises an integral single-piece driver 62 and film sensor lever 64. The film sensor lever 64 has a sensor head 66 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in contact with the trailing film end portion 22. The driver 62 has a depending drive-part 68 located in the drive cavity 28 of the light lock 18 to rotationally engage the light lock in order to pivot the light lock closed, and a coaxial upstanding gear-support-part 70 on which is coaxially fixed a first spur gear 72. Rotation of the first spur gear 72 in a counter-clockwise direction in FIGS. 1 and 2 similarly rotates the drive-part 68 to pivot the light lock 18 closed.

A manual film rewind thumbwheel 74 has a depending coaxial drive-part 76 located in the drive cavity 24 of the spool 14 to rotationally engage the spool. The thumbwheel 74 is manually rotated in a film winding direction 78 to similarly rotate the spool 14 to wind the filmstrip 16 including the trailing film end portion 22 into the cassette shell 12.

A second spur gear 80 continuously in mesh with the first spur gear 72 is coaxially fixed to a locking lever 82. A mount-pin 84 rotationally supports the second spur gear 80 and the locking lever 82, and maintains the second spur gear continuously spaced from the thumbwheel 74. As shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 15, the locking lever 82 is normally located beneath the tool ingress opening 56 in the top housing portion 54 to cover or block the tool ingress opening.

A tension spring 86 biases the locking lever 82 to rotate with the second spur gear 80 in a clockwise direction in FIG. 1 to, in turn, bias the first spur gear 72 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction in FIG. 1 to urge the sensor head 66 of the film sensor lever 64 against the filmstrip 16. Film resistance at the sensor head 66 is greater than the bias of the spring 66. As a result, the spring 86 is prevented from urging the locking lever 82 to rotate with the second spur gear 80 in a clockwise direction in FIG. 1 in order to move one end 88 of the locking lever against an arcuate rib 90 on the thumbwheel 74. Instead, the lever end 88 is held spaced a slight distance 92 from the arcuate rib 90.

Operation--Background

Going from FIGS. 1 and 2 to FIG. 3, when the thumbwheel 74 is rotated in the film winding direction 78 the trailing film end portion 22 is drawn from the sensor head 66 of the film sensor lever 64 and into the slot 20 in the cassette shell 12. Once the trailing film end portion 22 is moved clear of the sensor head 66 the resulting absence of film resistance at the sensor head allows the spring 86 to rotate the locking lever and the second spur gear 80 clockwise in FIG. 3 until the lever end 88 abuts the arcuate rib 90 on the thumbwheel 74. Consequently, the actuator unit 60 is rotated counter-clockwise in FIG. 3 via the first spur gear 72 to make the drive-part 68 similarly pivot the light lock 18 initially closed ten degrees as shown in FIG. 3, to partially (slightly) close the light lock.

In FIG. 4, the thumbwheel 74 is rotated further in the film winding direction 78 than in FIG. 3 to draw the trailing film end portion 22 from the slot 20 and into the interior of the cassette shell 12 and to position a gap 94 in the arcuate rib 90 opposite the lever end 88. The presence of the gap 94 opposite the lever end 88 allows the spring 86 to rotate the locking lever 82 and the second spur gear 80 clockwise in FIG. 4 until the lever end is seated in the gap. Consequently, the actuator unit 60 is rotated counter-clockwise in FIG. 4 via the first spur gear 72 to make the drive-part 68 similarly pivot the light lock 18 further closed twenty degrees as shown in FIG. 4.

In FIG. 5, the thumbwheel 74 is rotated further in the film winding direction 78 than in FIG. 4 to draw the trailing film end portion 22 further into the interior of the cassette shell 12 and to make the arcuate rib 90 pivot the lever end 88 to rotate the locking lever 82 and the second spur gear 80 clockwise in FIG. 5. Consequently, the actuator unit 60 is rotated counter-clockwise in FIG. 5 via the first spur gear 72 to make the drive-part 68 similarly pivot the light lock 18 further closed thirty degrees as shown in FIG. 5.

In FIG. 6, the thumbwheel 74 is rotated further in the film winding direction 78 than in FIG. 5 to draw the trailing film end portion 22 further into the interior of the cassette shell 12 and to make the arcuate rib 90 pivot the lever end 88 to rotate the locking lever 82 and the second spur gear 80 clockwise in FIG. 5 until the lever end is pivoted out of the gap 94. Consequently, the actuator unit 60 is rotated counter-clockwise in FIG. 6 via the first spur gear 72 to make the drive-part 68 similarly pivot the light lock 18 further closed thirty-two degrees as shown in FIG. 6, to completely close the light lock.

At this time, a locking tooth 96 on the underside of the locking lever 82 is moved into engagement with the thumbwheel 74 to prevent further rotation of the thumbwheel in the film winding direction 78 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 16. The locking tooth 96 secures the thumbwheel 74 with the spool 14 at the predetermined second-obtuse angle of rotation. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, when the spool 14 is at the predetermined second-obtuse angle of rotation 46 the indicator flag 30 is at the same angle and, therefore is positioned in the window 36 to provide a visual film-completely-exposed warning or indication.

Also, the locking lever 82 uncovers the tool ingress opening 56 in the top housing portion 54. Then, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 a manual insertion tool 98 can be inserted through the ingress opening 56 and against the first spur gear 72 to force the actuator unit 60 and, therefore, the film cassette 10 downward in the chamber 52.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the bottom lid 58 has a peripheral annular bead or lip 100 which is snugly received within a mating peripheral annular groove 102 in the chamber 52 to removably secure the lid in place to light-tightly close the chamber at its bottom. The lid 58 is flexible, and has a fixed x-shaped projection 104 inwardly adjacent the peripheral annular lip 100 and a fixed x-shaped projection 106 which is centered on the lid to be radially spaced from the lip. See FIG. 17. The projection 104 protrudes into the chamber 52 in line with the drive-part 68 of the actuator unit 60. The projection 106 protrudes into the chamber 52 in line with the drive-part 76 of the thumbwheel 74. The two projections 104 and 106 are the same height. When the manual insertion tool 98 is inserted through the ingress opening 56 and against the first spur gear 72 to force the actuator unit 60 and the film cassette 10 downward in the chamber 52, the cassette is pushed simultaneously against the two projections 104 and 106. Consequently, the lid 58 is flexed or bowed slightly out of the chamber 52 at a central portion 108 of the lid, beneath the projection 106, and is flexed or bowed slightly out of the chamber at an adjoining radial portion 110 of the lid, close to the projection 104. This distortion of the lid 58 causes the peripheral annular lip 100 of the lid to start to separate from the peripheral annular groove 102 in the chamber 52, beginning in the vicinity of the projection 104. Then, continued pushing of the cassette 10 against the projection 106 continues to progressively separate the peripheral annular lip 100 of the lid 58 from the peripheral annular groove 102 in the chamber 52. When the separation is completed, the lid 58 falls away from the chamber 52 and the cassette 10 is pushed out of the chamber. See FIG. 17.

If the camera 50 is dropped onto a relatively hard surface, with the film cassette 10 in the chamber 52, the resulting impact to the camera might jar the cassette against the two projections 104 and 106 of the bottom lid 58 to possibly dislodge the lid to open the chamber 52. To prevent the lid 58 from being dislodged to open the chamber 52, a fixed stop-protrusion 112 is located in the chamber 52 in the way of the light lock 18, when it is open, to keep the film cassette 10 from being jarred against the two projections 104 and 106. See FIG. 15. However, when the light lock 18 is completely closed, it is retracted from the stop-protrusion 112. Thus, the stop-protrusion 112 is clear of the light lock 18 to permit the film cassette 10 to be pushed against the two projections 104 and 106 to separate the lid 58 from the chamber 52 and to Push the cassette out of the chamber. See FIGS. 16 and 17.

The Preferred Embodiment

The cassette shell 12 has an integral, resilient, internal locking pawl 114 that is inherently biased against the split periphery of a coaxial end post 116 of the light lock 18 when the light lock is not completely closed as shown in FIGS. 18-20, and is inherently biased to engage the end post at a stepped portion 118 of the end post to secure the light lock closed when the light lock is pivoted completely closed as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22. The split periphery of the end post 116 defines the coaxial drive cavity 28 of the light lock 18. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,357,303 and 5,359,378, the locking pawl 114 can be flexibly moved away from the stepped portion 118 of the end post 116 to permit the light lock 18 to be pivoted open.

The drive-part 68 of the driver 62 has a radial drive wing 120 that is swung against a flat portion 122 of the end post 116, substantially at a right angle with the stepped portion 118 of the end post, to rotationally engage the end post when the drive-part is first rotated to pivot the light lock 18 closed. See FIGS. 18-20. Continued rotation of the drive-part 68 with its drive wing 120 against the flat portion 122 of the end post 116 then pivots the light lock 18 completely closed.

When the light lock 18 is completely closed, a gap 124 in the split periphery of the end post 116 is positioned opposite the locking pawl 114. This permits the locking pawl 114 to move against the stepped portion 118 of the end post 116 to secure the light lock 18 closed. See FIGS. 21 and 22. As shown in FIG. 22, the locking pawl 114 moves simultaneously into a void 126 in the drive-part 68 beneath the drive wing 120. The void 126 prevents the drive-part 68 from pushing the locking pawl 114 off the stepped portion 118 of the end post 116. This might otherwise occur when the tool 98 is pushed against the first spur gear 72 to force the actuator unit 60 (including the drive-part 68) and, therefore, the film cassette 10 downward in the chamber 52, because the tool might be unintentionally turned clockwise in FIGS. 16 and 17.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications can be effected by a person of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

PARTS LIST

10. film cassette

12. cassette shell

14. flanged spool

16. filmstrip

18. light lock

20. slot

22. trailing film end portion

24. drive cavity

26. drive end

28. drive cavity

30. indicator flag

32. window

34. window

36. window

38. window

40. VEI end

42. acute angle of rotation

44. first-obtuse angle of rotation

46. second-obtuse angle of rotation

48. third-obtuse angle of rotation

50. camera

52. cassette chamber

54. top housing portion

56. tool ingress opening

58. bottom lid

60. actuator unit

62. driver

64. film sensor lever

66. sensor head

68. drive-part

70. gear-support-part

72. first spur gear

74. film rewind thumbwheel

76. drive-part

78. film winding direction

80. second spur gear

82. locking lever

84. mount-pin

86. tension spring

88. lever end

90. arcuate rib

92. slight distance

94. gap

96. locking tooth

98. insertion tool

100. peripheral annular lip

102. peripheral annular groove

104. x-shaped projection

106. x-shaped projection

108. central portion

110. adjoining portion

112. stop-protrusion

114. locking pawl

116. end post

118. stepped portion

120. drive wing

122. flat portion

124. gap

126. void 

We claim:
 1. A one-time-use camera comprising a film cassette having a light lock pivoted open to permit film movement into the cassette interior and pivoted closed to prevent ambient light from entering the cassette interior and a locking pawl movable into engagement with said light lock when the light lock is closed to secure the light lock closed and movable out of engagement with the light lock when the light lock is closed to permit the light lock to be pivoted open, is characterized in that:a driver is moveable in engagement with said light lock to pivot the light lock closed to allow said locking pawl to move into engagement with the light lock and has a void which prevents the driver from moving the locking pawl out of engagement with the light lock, whereby said driver can be pushed against said film cassette to push the film cassette out of said camera without any possibility of the driver being moved in engagement with said light lock to pivot the light lock open. 